1 Chronicles 28:1 And David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies that ministered to the king by course, and the captains over the thousands, and captains over the hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possession of the king, and of his sons, with the officers, and with the mighty men, and with all the valiant men, unto Jerusalem.
This was a general assembly of the princes called by David to set before the leaders of the nation the project of building the Temple and to install Solomon publicly as king. Solomon had been anointed hurriedly and privately to forestall Adonijah’s usurpation (see
1 Kings 1:38, 39), but this was now to be the formal coronation.
The princes and national leaders designated in the following clauses.
Captains of the companies.
Commanders of the 12 divisions of the army (see
ch. 27:2-15).
Captains over the thousands.
At the time of the Exodus from Egypt the Lord instructed Moses to set over the people
“rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens” Ex. 18:21.
The royal princes were probably included in the list of leading men of the realm to be consulted in matters of importance. They are later mentioned (
ch. 29:24) as pledging allegiance to Solomon.
Heb.
sarisim, literally,
“eunuchs.” Some think that
saris at times has a generalized sense, denoting a courtier or palace official, although this cannot be proved (see on
Gen. 37:36).
1 Chronicles 28:2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building:
Because of David’s age and physical weakness it had probably not been expected that he would be able to address the assemblage in person.
My brethren, and my people.
By these words David desired his people to understand that he recognized all Israel as near of kin to himself—that the whole nation was one large family of which David was considered the head (see
1 Sam. 30:23; 2 Sam. 19:12).
Compare
ch. 22:7. David’s one great ambition had been to build the Temple as a permanent home for the ark of the Lord.
This verse seems to imply that David had begun preliminary preparations before the prohibition was announced.
1 Chronicles 28:3 But God said unto me, Thou shalt not build an house for my name, because thou hast been a man of war, and hast shed blood.
The emphasis is on the word
“God,” in contrast with the
“I” in
v. 2:
“As for me, I had in mine heart to build.” To build a house for the Lord was a worthy purpose, but God had reasons why it would be better for someone other than David to build the Temple.
It was hardly appropriate that a man of war should build the world’s great temple of peace. The wars of David were perhaps necessary and justifiable wars, but they were wars nevertheless, and they resulted in the shedding of much blood. It seemed inappropriate that such a ruler should build the Temple (see
ch. 22:8).
1 Chronicles 28:4 Howbeit the Lord God of Israel chose me before all the house of my father to be king over Israel for ever: for he hath chosen Judah to be the ruler; and of the house of Judah, the house of my father; and among the sons of my father he liked me to make me king over all Israel:
See on
2 Sam. 7:12, 13, 16. Through Christ, the Seed of David, the throne of David will be established forever (see
Luke 1:32, 33; John 12:34). What literal Israel forfeited, first through national apostasy, and further through rejecting Jesus, will be fulfilled in the kingdom of spiritual Israel (on the conditional aspect of these promises, see on
v. 7).
1 Chronicles 28:5 And of all my sons, (for the Lord hath given me many sons,) he hath chosen Solomon my son to sit upon the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
See
ch. 3:1-9, where 19 sons are named, besides
“the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.”
God had certified through Nathan that David’s successor on the throne was to be a younger son (
2 Sam. 7:12), and it had evidently been revealed that this was to be Solomon (
1 Chron. 22:8-10).
The kingdom of Israel was primarily God’s kingdom, a theocracy. David was merely reigning as the representative of God.
1 Chronicles 28:7 Moreover I will establish his kingdom for ever, if he be constant to do my commandments and my judgments, as at this day.
The promise to David that his throne was to be established forever was conditional, the condition being obedience. God repeated the same conditions to Solomon (
1 Kings 9:4, 5). Compare also
1 Kings 3:14, where God promised to Solomon a lengthening of his days if he kept God’s commandments. God also revealed to David that only on the condition that his descendants kept the divine covenant would they always sit upon his throne (see
1 Kings 2:3, 4; cf.
Ps. 132:11, 12).
1 Chronicles 28:8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the Lord, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the Lord your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever.
David well understood the supreme importance of obedience if Israel were to prosper. In this final address he therefore urged his people to be faithful. By his own bitter experience he had learned that the pathway of transgression is hard. He knew by experience what it meant to be condemned before God and to reap the fruits of transgression. Therefore with all the earnestness of his soul he urged the people to be true to God. Moses likewise, shortly before his death, set before Israel the blessings of obedience and the terrible fruits of transgression (
Deut. 28; cf.
Isa. 1:19, 20; Jer. 7:3-12).
God had promised His people a
“good land,” “flowing with milk and honey” (
Ex. 3:8). David recognized that it was indeed a good land which the Lord had given to His people.
1 Chronicles 28:9 And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever.
Before all the congregation David now addressed himself to Solomon, earnestly admonishing him to be faithful. David knew that the prosperity of his son’s reign was dependent upon whether he would be true to God. If faithful, Solomon would prosper; if unfaithful, he would reap the consequences of transgression and the nation would suffer with him.
Nothing in the world is of greater importance than a knowledge of God. To know God brings peace and happiness in this world, and the blessings of life eternal.
“This is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (
John 17:3).
Or,
“whole heart.” David enjoined upon his son an undivided allegiance, admonishing him to give himself completely to the service of God, and to do so willingly and cheerfully (see
1 Chron. 29:19; cf.
1 Kings 8:61).
True service of God is heart service. No man can be a child of God who does not willingly serve Him. There is no such thing as forced Christianity.
“If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land” (
Isa. 1:19). This does not imply that performance of duty is always in harmony with one’s inclination. In fact, obedience often does involve crucifixion of self. Paul’s wishes and desires daily conflicted with duty; nevertheless he did the will of God, however unpleasant and crucifying to his nature (see LS 237).
Because the Lord understands the weaknesses of the human heart He has mercy and compassion toward us, even when we have sinned against Him.
“Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust” (
Ps. 103:13, 14).
Compare
Deut. 4:29; Isa. 55:6; Jer. 29:13. For the man who searches for God, the Lord is not far away. He who desires to know God will find Him, and he will also find confidence, peace, and life everlasting. Life’s most rewarding quest is the search after God.
It is man who causes a separation between himself and God. Only when man forsakes the Lord and His ways of righteousness will he find that God has cast him off. The Lord never forsakes those who seek after Him (
Ps. 9:10).
1 Chronicles 28:10 Take heed now; for the Lord hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.
Give careful consideration to this high commission, weigh it carefully and understand its supreme importance, for it is none other than God Himself who has chosen you to build this house for Him. Then be strong, and act (see
1 Chron. 22:13, 16; cf.
Ps. 27:14; 31:24).
1 Chronicles 28:11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat,
As the Lord had given Moses a pattern of the tabernacle he was to construct in the wilderness (
Ex. 25:8, 9), so He had given David a revelation of the Temple plans (
1 Chron. 28:19). A plan had been drawn up in accord with the revelation that had come to David, and this was now turned over to Solomon. Inasmuch as the Temple of Solomon was to take the place of the tabernacle built by Moses, and inasmuch as both structures, together with their services, were to teach important truths regarding the plan of salvation, it was important that divine direction be carefully followed.
The reference here is probably to the holy and the most holy place (see
1 Kings 6:17, 27, where these apartments are called
“the house” and
“the inner house,” and
2 Chron. 3:5, 8, where they are termed
“the greater house” and
“the most holy house”).
Probably service chambers that were used as places of deposit for the Temple revenues as well as the storage of supplies used in the Temple service. Their exact location is not known, but they were probably in the side chambers on the outside of the Temple proper (see
1 Kings 6:5, 6).
The exact location of these
“upper chambers” is not known. They may have been above the lower rooms of the Temple proper, for the height of the most holy place was only 20 cu. (
1 Kings 6:20), whereas the height of the Temple itself was 30 cu. (
1 Kings 6:2). The space of about 10 cu. between the ceiling of the holy of holies and the Temple roof was possibly occupied by these
“upper chambers.”
1 Chronicles 28:12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the Lord, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things:
The pattern that had come into his mind, as revealed to him by the Spirit of God (
v. 19). The plan of the Temple was not of David’s own devising; it came to him from the Lord (see PP 751).
1 Chronicles 28:13 Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the Lord.
1 Chronicles 28:14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service:
David gave directions concerning the exact amount of gold to be used for the making of the various vessels. Minute specifications were provided with the fixed weight of gold for various objects.
1 Chronicles 28:15 Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick.
According to
Ex. 25:31-40 there was a single seven-branched
“candlestick,” or lampstand, in the sanctuary, but for the Temple of Solomon there were ten candlesticks. These latter were perhaps in addition to the original candlestick (see on
1 Kings 7:49; cf.
2 Chron. 4:7). The weight of the golden candlesticks and their lamps was accurately specified. Nothing was left to chance, to be done in a haphazard way.
1 Chronicles 28:16 And by weight he gave gold for the tables of shewbread, for every table; and likewise silver for the tables of silver:
1 Chronicles 28:17 Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver:
The fleshhooks employed in the sanctuary in the wilderness were made of brass (
Ex. 27:3).
1 Chronicles 28:18 And for the altar of incense refined gold by weight; and gold for the pattern of the chariot of the cherubims, that spread out their wings, and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.
Chariot of the cherubims.
There was probably no literal chariot, but the cherubim themselves may have constituted the chariot (see
Ps. 18:10; 68:17).
1 Chronicles 28:19 All this, said David, the Lord made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.
This verse literally translated reads, “He explained all in writing from the hand of Yahweh upon me, all the works of the pattern.” The LXX has a fuller reading and may be translated, “All these things in writing from the hand of the Lord David gave to Solomon according to the knowledge given to him of the work of the pattern.”
1 Chronicles 28:20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it: fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the Lord.
Fear not, nor be dismayed.
Compare the final admonition from Moses to Joshua and the people (
Deut. 31:6-8), and the Lord’s admonition to Joshua when he took up the task of leadership (
Joshua 1:5-7). If Solomon was to measure up to all that God and the nation expected of him, he would need to be courageous, courageous to be loyal personally to the precepts of Jehovah and to apply sound principles in his conduct of the affairs of state. Unfortunately, inducements to personal pleasure and prestige eventually prevailed.
On Solomon’s apostasy and repentance, see the Introduction to Ecclesiastes.